Cardigan & Sweater in Stylecraft You & Me - 9821 - Downloadable PDF

Stylecraft 9821: Cardigan & Sweater Knitting Pattern in You & Me DK — Pattern Summary

Stylecraft pattern 9821 is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern featuring two classic designs: a cardigan and a sweater (jumper), both worked in Stylecraft You & Me DK yarn. The pattern is graded as easy knit and is described by Stylecraft as suitable for an intermediate knitter, making it an ideal project for those who have moved beyond the basics and are comfortable working from a written pattern with shaping instructions. One of the most appealing features of this pattern is its generous size range, spanning both girls' sizes and ladies' sizes in a single pattern booklet, making it a versatile choice for knitting matching or coordinating garments for different members of the family.

Size Range and Fit

The pattern covers a wide range of sizes across two categories:

• Girls' sizes: To fit ages 1–2 years, 3–5 years, and 7–9 years, corresponding to chest measurements of approximately 46–51 cm (18–20 in), 56–61 cm (22–24 in), and 66–71 cm (26–28 in)
• Ladies' sizes: To fit dress sizes 8/10, 12/14, and 16/18, corresponding to bust measurements of approximately 76–81 cm (30–32 in), 86–91 cm (34–36 in), and 97–102 cm (38–40 in)

The actual (finished) measurements of the cardigan range from approximately 52 cm (20½ in) at the smallest girls' size up to 106 cm (41¾ in) at the largest ladies' size. Full lengths for the cardigan range from approximately 34 cm (13½ in) to 66 cm (26 in). The sweater's actual measurements range from approximately 57 cm (22½ in) to 113 cm (44½ in), with full lengths from approximately 32 cm (12½ in) to 64 cm (25¼ in).

Design 1: The Cardigan

The cardigan is a classic, structured design with a neat finish and a comfortable, wearable silhouette suited to both children and adults. The pattern is constructed in separate pieces — including the back, fronts, and sleeves — which are then seamed together, a traditional construction method that gives the finished garment excellent shape and stability.

Techniques and Construction

• Moss stitch border/ribbing: The back begins with a moss stitch (also known as seed stitch) border worked over several rows. Moss stitch is created by alternating knit and purl stitches across the row, then on subsequent rows working purl over knit and knit over purl, so that no two identical stitches are stacked directly on top of each other. This produces a beautifully textured, non-curling fabric that is ideal for borders, cuffs, and button bands.
• Shaping with M1 increases: After the initial moss stitch section, the pattern introduces Make 1 (M1) increases to shape the body, gradually adding stitches to achieve the correct width for each size. This is a neat, virtually invisible increase method commonly used in garment knitting.
• Cast-on method: The back is cast on using 4 mm needles, with stitch counts varying by size — for example, 51 stitches at the smallest size up to 107 stitches at the largest.

Stitches Used

• Moss stitch (seed stitch): K1, P1 ribbing worked in an offset pattern to create texture
• Stocking stitch (implied for the main body sections, standard in DK garment patterns of this type)
• M1 (Make 1) increases for shaping

Design 2: The